Apocalyptic scenes, nine dead as wildfire rips through California

CALFORNIA’S Sheriff has confirmed nine people have died in fires that have engulfed the Southern part of the state. A recent update from the LA County Fire Department confirmed the fire had zero percent containment at this stage. More than 200,000 residents of the area and 75,000 homes are currently under mandatory evacuation. Some of the victims have been found in their homes, others in their cars. They have not yet been able to be formally identified. The fire has been confirmed as the worst the state has ever encountered, having grown to a size of 362 square kilometres within a single day. As thousands are forced from their homes and numerous highways are shut down, residents have taken to social media to document large fires and unusual cloud formations. California has been granted federal funds by US President Donald Trump to battle the flames as they continue to spread. The President has issued an emergency declaration providing aid to help state and local firefighters battling blazes in Butte, Ventura and other Los Angeles counties. Apocalyptic scenes surround them as they flee for their lives, thousands of homes reportedly burning across numerous neighbourhoods including Malibu, Paradise, Oak Park and Thousand Oaks. The fire currently is showing no signs of slowing, with a reported 2000 firefighters attempting to bring the blaze under control. Many highways have been closed making mass evacuations difficult. Residents have taken to social media to document the apocalyptic scenes around them as they run for their lives…. [Read full story]